Teaching aid for retarded children

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to aid in teaching retarded children which utilizes word association cards and offers rewards for correct answers. The proper identification of a word or a picture by a student results in the student&#39;&#39;s receipt of a token which will be exchanged for a reward. The student is further rewarded by being allowed to move an indicator to a position adjacent a different word association card after each correct answer.

United States Patent Ferguson [451 June 13, 1972 [54] TEACHING AID FORRETARDED CHILDREN [72] Inventor: Jean Ferguson, 721 South Green Street,

Apt. 223, Longview, Tex. 75601 [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1970 211 App]. No.:95,281

[52] U.S. 35/91; [51] Int. Cl. G09b3/02 [58] 'FieldofSearch ..35/9 R,9E,35 D, 35 H, 69

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,982 9/1927 McDade..35/9 E X 2,628,435 2/1953 Minninger ..35/35 R 2,855,703 10/1958Stanton ..35/9 R X 3,181,252 5/1965 Goldschmidt ..35/9 R PrimaryExaminer-Harland S. Skogquist Attorney-A. Yates Dowell and A. YatesDowell, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus to aid in teaching retarded children whichutilizes word association cards and offers rewards for correct answers.The proper identification of a word or a picture by a student results inthe student's receipt of a token which will be exchanged for a reward.The student is further rewarded by being allowed to move an indicator toa position adjacent a diflerent word association card afler each correctanswer.

SCI-Ins, 10Dnwlngflgures PAIENTEDJun 13 1972 SHEET 1!]? 2 m HOM mi mPAYS-375mm 13 m2 3. 668 789 SHEET 2 OF 2 3/ INVENIOR r krfwrdid lug-AuxATTORR EYb' TEACHING AID FOR RETARDED CHILDREN BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This application relates generallyto educational teaching aids and relates specifically to teachingeducatable mentally retarded children by the use of word associationwith pictures to aid word recognition and to the dispensing of rewardsfor progress in learning in order to keep the attention of mentallyretarded students over a longer period of time.

2. Description of the Prior Art l-leretofore most educational processes,apparatus, and aids have been geared to students having average, belowaverage, or above average learning capacities, while exceptionalstudents have advanced beyond their years and mentally retarded studentshaving a short interest span have fallen by the wayside. Since mostmentally retarded students are merely retarded and are not incapable oflearning, some efforts have been made to educate them by providingspecial classes under the supervision of specially trained teachers. Ithas been found that one of the primary reasons why so-called slow"students have not learned more rapidly is due to an interest span ofshort duration after which the student's mind refuses to acceptadditional knowledge.

Some efforts have been made to provide teaching apparatus for slow orretarded students; however, these devices have failed to retain thestudents interest for substantial periods of time and, therefore, eventhough they have helped the student to some degree, they have not beenentirely satisfactory for educating the student to his full capacity forlearning. Also, these prior art devices have been complicated, expensiveand have failed tomake any significant advance in the student's learningrate.

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION Ill The present invention is an apparatus to aidin teaching educatable mentally retarded students by substantiallyincreasing the interest span of the student. This is done by activelyinvolving the student in the operation of the apparatus and dispensing areward when the student in correct. Also after the student has collectedhis reward, he is permitted to continue and to earn additional rewardsas long as he gives correct answers. The apparatus includes a pluralityof word and picture association cards with a student operated indicatorby means of which the student selects a card either of his own volitionor because of instructions from the teacher. If the student correctlyassociates the word and the picture, he is rewarded and permitted tocontinue.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple aid forteaching retarded childrenwhich increases the child's attentiveness andconcentration by actively involving the child and offering a reward forcorrect answers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aid for teachingretarded children in which a plurality of indicia bearing cards aremovably and replaceably mounted on the apparatus and at least one rewarddispensing mechanism is provided by means of which a child will berewarded for a correct answer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentarysection showing the guideways for the indicator along line 8-8 of FIG.1.

FIG. 9 illustrates difi'erent types of indicia bearing cards accordingto the invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of one comer of a cardillustrating a recess with a token therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings,the present invention includes a generally rectangular box 14constructed of wood, plastic or similar material and havingsubstantially identical front and back walls 15 connected together byside walls I6 and top walls 17. A pair of generally vertical insidewalls of partitions I8 and a recessed generally horizontal lower wall orpartition 19 (shown in FIG. 5) define an inner storage corn partment 20.1

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the front and back walls 15 includethin backing panels 21 over which are attached a plurality of equallyspaced horizontal track-forming strips 22. An indicia bearing card 23 isslidably mounted on each strip 22 except the top one. A relatively widevertically disposed cover panel 24 is fixed over a portion of thehorizontal trackforming strips 22 to mask a portion of each card. Asillustrated, the cover panel 24 is located along the right side of thefront and back walls 15. A retainer 25 is fixed to the central portionof each strip 22. Such retainer is'wider than the strip and overlies theupper and lower edges thereof to hold the card 23 behind the retainer.As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, each of .the indicia bearing cards 23includes a recess or receptacle 26 located adjacent to one end and suchrecess snugly receives a'token 27 which can be removed by a student fora purpose to be described later.

A pair of vertically extending generally parallel channel members 30 arefixed to the outer surface of the strips 22 at one side of the box 14.These channel members face toward each other and form a guideway for avertically movable indicator 31. As illustrated in FIG. 8, felt or otherrelatively soft strips 32 may be attached to one or more of the innerwalls of each of the channel members 30 to provide frictional supportfor the indicator 31. Upper and lower stop members 33 are located atopposite ends of the channel members 30 to limit vertical movement ofthe indicator 3] and prevent the removal of such indicator from thechannel members. In order to move the indicator 3! along the channelmembers 30, an opening34 extends through the upper stop member toprovide a passageway for a pull string 35 which is attached to theindicator at one end and to a ring pull handle 36 at the other end.

It is desirable to provide a reward for a correct answer to iricreasethe student's interest and concentration. In order to do this, one ormore dispensers 37 are located within the box I4. As illustrated'inFIGS. 5 and 7, each dispenser includes a vertical supply cylinder 38which holds a multiplicity of separate objects, such as pieces of candy39. The upper end of each supply cylinder extends into a suitableopening in the top walls 17 and the lower end thereof extends throughthe lower partition 19.

The upper end of each cylinder may be closed in any desired manner, suchas a plug or the like, or, as illustrated, by a flat rectangular platewhich slidably fits into a cutout area in the top wall 17.

The lower end of the supply cylinder is open and discharges objects intoan opening 44 extending through a drawer 45. Such drawer rests on abottom block 46 having an elongated slot 47 adapted to receive :1 lug 48carried by the bottom sur-- face of the drawer. A spring or otherresilient member 49 is attached to the inner end of the drawer and isanchored to the block 46. A ring pull handle 50 and stop plate 51 areattached to the outer end of the drawer. When the drawer is pulledoutwardly, the lug 48 will contact the front wall of the slot 47 andlimit outward movement of the drawer 45 at which time the opening 44 isdisposed entirely outside the side wall 16 so that a piece of candy 39will fall by gravity from the opening 44. The spring will return thedrawer inwardly until the stop plate 51 engages the side wall 16 atwhich time the opening 44 will be in registration with the supplycylinder 38 so that another piece of candy will gravitate into theopening 44. Each time discharged.

the drawer is pulled outwardly,

a single piece of candy is the indicia atone end of the card isindicative of a correct answer. As' shown in FIG. 1, the card is longenough so that when it is in position on one of the track-forming strips22 of the box, a portion of the card projects outwardly beyond the edgeof the box and is readily grasped. The opposite end portion of the cardnormally is masked by the cover panel 24 so that the indicia thereonwill be hidden until the student has answered, after which the card maybe moved in either direction to reveal the hidden indicia by partiallywithdrawing such card or by inserting it further.

FIG. 9 illustrates several embodiments of indicia bearing cards in whichthe indicia on the cards include categories of spacial, relationship andfunctional words although these are merely examples of satisfactoryindicia which could be used. If a student were working with the firstembodiment a, the owl and the word downward on the righthand side of thecard would be covered by the panel 24 and the three different owls onthe left would be exposed to view. The student would be asked by theteacher to point to the picture which means downward." Exposure of thehidden portion of the card would reveal the correct answer. Similarlyfor the second embodiment b the student would be asked to choose and saywhich word matches the picture and then the correct answer would berevealed. In the last embodiment the student would be required to readthe word, tell what it means, and would confirm-a correct reading byuncovering the picture and word of the object.

Since the box 14 is relatively small and portable, a handle 52 of anydesired configuration is provided for carrying such box. As illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 6, the handle includes a generally rigid central portion53 pivotally connected to links 54 which in turn are swingably mountedon pins 55 carried by the partitions 18. it is noted, however, that thehandle could be constructed of flexible straps or other conventionalhandleforming means.

The entire teaching apparatus including the box and the indicia bearingcards may be placed within a carrying case 56 such as that illustratedin FIG. 2 to protect the same during transportation and when not in use.The carrying case forms a jacket over the box and has top closure flaps57 having slots 58 through which the handle 52 projects.

In the operation of the apparatus, indicia bearing cards 23, whichnormally are stored within the compartment 20, are placed on thetrack-forming strips 22 so that the righthand end portion of each cardis masked. The indicator 31 is pushed down to a bottom position in thechannels 30. The student is asked a question relative to the visibleindicia on the card opposite the indicator 31. Following the student'sresponse, the teacher or the student moves the card to reveal the'correct answer. If the students answer is correct, he removes the token27 from the recess 26 on the card 23. The student then is permitted topull the string 35 to move the indicator up to the next card. Thisprocess repeats itself until the student gives an incorrect answer oruntil the end of a days lesson. Following the lesson the student returnshis accumulated tokens to the teacher and operates the dispenser drawer45 once for each token returned. Thus he is repeatedly rewarded for hislearning successes by being permitted to advance the indicatorvertically, to remove tokens from the card recesses, and to exchangetokens for edible objects.

It is contemplated that the student could redeem his tokens immediatelyor, if desired, the tokens could be omitted and the candy placeddirectly in the pockets 26.

In order to help focus attention, the box apparatus may be painted indull or neutral shades which contrast with the bright coloring on theindicia bearing cards.

This teaching technique an apparatus have proved particularly successfulwith mentally retarded children. However, the apparatus can readily beadapted to different levels and types of students by variation in thedifficulty of material printed on the indicia bearing cards.

I claim:

1. A teaching aid for instructing retarded children, said aid comprisinga box, a plurality of guideways mounted on said box, an indicia bearingcard slidably and replaceably mounted in each of said guideways, meansfor masking a portion of the indicia on each of said cards, indicatingmeans selectively adjustably mounted on said box in a position toindicate a selected card, means for operating said indicating means,reward dispensing means located within said box, and means forselectively operating said dispensing means to dispense a reward forcorrectly identifying the indicia on at least one of said cards. I

2. The structure of claim I in which said reward dispensing meansincludes a supply cylinder for receiving a plurality of rewards, adrawer having an opening therethrough slidably mounted below said supplycylinder, the opening in said drawer being in registration with saidcylinder when the drawer is retracted and in a positionto receive areward from said cylinder, handle means for, moving said drawer in adirection normal to the axis of said cylinder, whereby the reward insaid opening will be dispensed.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said cards includes tokenmeans which can be removed and redeemed for a reward. I

4. The structure of claim 1 in'which said box includes a storagecompartment adapted to receive a multiplicity of cards when the cardsare not in use.

5. A teaching aid comprising a box having spaced front and rear walls,each of said walls having a plurality of horizontally disposed guidewaysextending entirely across the same, a plurality of indicia bearing cardsslidably mounted in said guideways, a masking panel located at one endof said guideways and adapted to mask a portion of each of said cards, apair of opposed generally vertical channel members mounted on saidguideways in spaced relation to said masking panel, an indicatorslidably mounted in said channel members and selectively movable to aposition generally in alignment with each of said cards, means formoving said indicator, at least one reward dispensing means locatedbetween said front and rear walls and including a supply cylinder'forreceiving a plurality of rewards, a slide member located below saidsupply cylinder, said slide member having an opening for receiving areward from said cylinder when the cylinder and opening are inregistration, and means for moving said slide member in a directionnormal to said supply cylinder so that the slide member will dispensethe reward in said opening and will prevent additional rewards frombeing dispensed until the slide member returns to its initial position.

1. A teaching aid for instructing retarded children, said aid comprisinga box, a plurality of guideways mounted on said box, an indicia bearingcard slidably and replaceably mounted in each of said guideways, meansfor masking a portion of the indicia on each of said cards, indicatingmeans selectively adjustably mounted on said box in a position toindicate a selected card, means for operating said indicating means,reward dispensing means located within said box, and means forselectively operating said dispensing means to dispense a reward forcorrectly identifying the indicia on at least one of said cards.
 2. Thestructure of claim 1 in which said reward dispensing means includes asupply cylinder for receiving a plurality of rewards, a drawer having anopening therethrough slidably mounted below said supply cylinder, theopening in said drawer being in registration with said cylinder when thedrawer is retracted and in a position to receive a reward from saidcylinder, handle means for moving said drawer in a direction normal tothe axis of said cylinder, whereby the reward in said opening will bedispensed.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said cardsincludes token means which can be removed and redeemed for a reward. 4.The structure of claim 1 in which said box includes a storagecompartment adapted to receive a multiplicity of cards when the cardsare not in use.
 5. A teaching aid comprising a box having spaced frontand rear walls, each of said walls having a plurality of horizontallydisposed guideways extending entirely across the same, a plurality ofindicia bearing cards slidably mounted in said guideways, a maskingpanel located at one end of said guideways and adapted to mask a portionof each of said cards, a pair of opposed generally vertical channelmembers mounted on said guideways in spaced relation to said maskingpanel, an indicator slidably mounted in said channel members andselectively movable to a position generally in alignment with each ofsaid cards, means for moving said indicator, at least one rewarddispensing means located between said front and rear walls and includinga supply cylinder for receiving a plurality of rewards, a slide memberlocated below said supply cylinder, said slide member having an openingfor receiving a reward from said cylinder when the cylinder and openingare in registration, and means for moving said slide member in adirection normal to said supply cylinder so tHat the slide member willdispense the reward in said opening and will prevent additional rewardsfrom being dispensed until the slide member returns to its initialposition.